[Date]

Summis:
Spring 2014
President's Letter 4.5.14

Sara Cary, our past President, has done a great job in keeping our Guild running smoothly and in
programming our workshops and events. Thank you Sara for your hard work in 2013. We hope you
are enjoying your new home in PA.

I joined the GNSI NW last October after graduating from the UW Natural Science Illustration
program in 2013, along with four fellow graduates who are also new committee members. My
preferred mediums are colored pencil, graphite and watercolor, but I'm gaining interest in acrylics. I
hold a BA from the University of Texas and a Postgraduate Diploma in Counseling and a Masters in
Mediation both from the University of South Australia. I have no previous formal training in art but
was keenly interested in Japanese Brush Painting some years ago. I have always drawn and painted
regardless of education. I am driven to bring awareness to extinct or endangered birds and wildlife,
partly due to a life lived in the outback of Australia, where life was harsh, and so saving wildlife was
naturally a part of the way we lived. My personal goal is to illustrate non-fiction children's books.

I'm excited to let you know that I have the upmost confidence in our new committee. We have a
great group of committee members, all of them showing excitement and interest in moving forward
with their GNSI duties. Together we will work as a team to provide all GNSI NW members with the
opportunity to attend workshops, hear special guest speakers, enter exhibitions and attend field trips.
We plan to have some fun events this year so stay tuned for updates coming soon.

Thanks for welcoming me onboard.

Susan Pope
GNSI NW President
www.susanpope.net
2014 GNSI NW Officers and Committee Members
President: Susan Pope Vice President: Michelle Poston

Treasurers: Sylvia Portillo and Lisa Valore Secretary: Joanne Hansen

Membership Secretary: Vronique Robigou Newsletter Editor: Barbara Ierulli

Website Manager: Lindsay Holladay Photographer: Elizabeth Smith


2
Nunc cursus magna quis
Introducing the New Board Members

Vice President - Michelle Poston:
I have always been in love with the art, history and natural environment of the world. I enjoy
depicting the natural world using my detail oriented skills from fiber arts, while finding the essential
personality of each subject, whether it is animal, mineral or vegetable and bringing that to the
forefront. I am excited about using my art skills to contributing to the future of GNSI-NW.

Membership Secretary - Vronique Robigou:
! #$$% &$'()'* +$ ,-..$'+/01 234!536 )7+/8/+/9, ), :9:;9',</. ,97'9+)'=> ! ): )0 )'+/,+ )0*
,7/90+/&/7 /##-,+')+$' ;),9* /0 49)++#9 (/+< ) ;)7%1'$-0* /0 19$#$1=? $79)0$1').<= )0* ,7/9079
9*-7)+/$0> @'$A97+, +<)+ ;#90* )'+,? ,7/9079, )0* #9)'0/01 )'9 := .),,/$0 /0 +<9 ,+-*/$? /0 +<9 &/9#* $'
/0 )0= +9)7</01 908/'$0:90+>

Website Manager - Lindsay Holladay:
I have a background in biomedical research and science education. I spent years researching malaria
vaccines and teaching inner city high school biology before transitioning to natural science
illustration. However, my passion for detailed research and educational interpretation can still be
seen in every art project I complete. I am currently specializing in editorial science illustration and
infographic design. My clients include outdoor magazines, environmental non-profits, and wildlife
organizations. I love rock climbing and backpacking around Washington with my husband, and am
currently learning to SCUBA dive in the Puget Sound!

Newsletter Editor - Barbara Ierulli:
Dear GNSI-NW members, I am coming into natural science illustration as a third career that was
postponed about 20 years as I maneuvered myself into a position where I could devote greater time
to it. Now having completed the UW NSI Program I am hoping I can jumpstart this career. I hope I
can make this an interesting newsletter that you will enjoy perusing.

Photographer - Elizabeth Smith:
Hello, GNSI-NW! I completed the UW NSI certification in 2013. After years of art hobbies and art
education I'm now pursuing work as a freelance artist. I enjoy capturing my own reference photos,
which is probably why I was nominated for this position.
Spring 2014
Member News Update
Congratulations to Michael Felber!

Michaels mixed media piece Brown Bear was selected for one
of fourteen Jury Awards at the Focus On Nature XIII
Exhibition in Albany, New York.
Barbara Ierullis painting entitled
Snowy Owls was also selected to be
in the exhibition.

The catalogue is now available to
download at the following link:
http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/illustrations/fon/exhibitions/fon13/F
ONXIII_Catalog.pdf


3
Sharon Birzers watercolor shown to the left "Raspberry
Frost Banksia (Banskia menziesii) will be in the Guild of
Natural Science Illustrators 2014 Member Exhibition in
Boulder, Colorado at the University of Colorados
Natural History Museum
Through September 25, 2014.

Barbara Ierulli will also be exhibiting Loxia curvirostra
at the GNSI Show.

If you are going to the conference or just happen to be in
Boulder wed love to have you stop by and see the work
and send us a review of the exhibition.
News and Workshop Updates
Exhibitions news: The Convention Center Exhibition with PNBA Drawing on Nature was a
great success and fun for all of those who participated. There were a few sales and definitely interest
in the work. There are plans afoot for another exhibit in 2016 so get busy. Sylvia Portillo is also
pondering renting a booth for the Flower and Garden Show next year so if you are interested please
contact her. Currently some members are exhibiting work at Miller Library in the Urban Horticulture Building
with most works for sale. Running concurrently with the Library Book Sale and Master Gardeners Plant Sale
crowds are a sure bet.
Photos from Drawing on Nature courtesy of Susan Pope
Spring 2014



Call for submissions: "In the Footsteps of David Douglas" at the Bush Barn in Salem, Oregon
with our own Susan Jones as one of the jurors.
Due June 1. To view the application go to the Oregon Botanical Artists website: http://www.oba-artists.com
Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming exhibition highlighting the legacy of David Douglas, the
19th-century botanist who explored the Lower Columbia and Willamette Valley regions in search of native plants
and animals. Botanical artists, natural science illustrators and landscape painters are encouraged to apply with
illustrations of species collected by Douglas or scenes of the Lower Columbia and Willamette Valley.

Workshop News: Although I didnt attend the spring workshop on
Identifying Birds at the Slater Museum word is out that it was very special.
Dennis Paulson worked the event around the weather and was able to
accommodate everyone for an extensive tour of the collection that included time
for drawing specimens. Susan Pope is still trying to solidify summer and fall workshops
so keep checking the website for news.

Eggs courtesy of Vronique Robigou
GNSI 2014 Annual Conference is coming up! July 13th-19th in Boulder Colorado
https://www.conf.gnsi.org
For all those bird lovers who missed it, David Sibleys talk at Third Place Books with Tony Angell hosting
was worth the drive. They both have new books out with the updated Sibley Guide including about 600 more
species. Might be worth checking out the next time you get by a bookstore. The mobile app will be updated later
this fall and if you dont have it yet wait for that one. We find it indispensible and way too convenient.
The Orcas Are Here: Saw one last week 4/22/14 at Colman Dock right beside the ferry. Keep your eyes open
this is the third sighting Ive had this year from the ferries.
New Board and Committee Activities: The first new board meeting was held on April 1st. This was mainly
an informational session and several items are slated for further discussion. Lindsay Holladay has been hard at work
on updating the look of our website. Check it out if you havent recently. Elizabeth Smith has kindly offered type
our Constitution and By-Laws into a word-processing format and it will soon be up on the website for easy reading.
Sylvia Portillo has posters and a few other items from the Drawing on Nature Exhibition for sale that you can
contact her about purchasing. mailto:sportil@comcast.net
Spring 2014
Please feel free to send me any news, illustrations or photos you want to include in upcoming newsletters.
mailto:bmierulli5@me.com